LAS VEGAS - Michael Taylor poured in a career-high 36 points to lead Whitworth to a 76-65 win over Ripon (Wis.) in a men's basketball contest at the D3hoops.com Classic on Tuesday night at the South Point Hotel and Casino Arena.

The sixth-ranked Pirates held off a determined effort by the Red Hawks (6-2) to improve to 10-0 this season.

Head coach Jim Hayford picked up his 199th win at Whitworth and can become the second coach in school history to record 200 victories. He gets his first chance on Wednesday against Colorado College (5-4) at 6:00 pm.

Taylor made 11-16 from the field and 12-17 from the free throw line to lead all players in scoring. He was the only Pirate to reach double figures and he added nine rebound and four assists. Felix Friedt had nine points and nine boards.

Whitworth never trailed and opened a 43-24 lead at halftime. The Pirates stretched the advantage to 47-24 early in the second half for their largest lead of the game. Whitworth still led 59-40 with under eight minutes to go when Ripon went on a 10-0 run to pull within 59-49. But Taylor answered the charge with six straight points, converting a three-point play and sinking a long three-pointer to give the Bucs back a 16-point (65-49) edge.

Whitworth had one of its toughest shooting nights of the season, making only 39% (24-62) from the floor and 17% (4-24) from three-point range. The Red Hawks outrebounded the Pirates 49-46. But Whitworth got to the free throw line 33 times and made 24 (73%).